Holder for fluorescent lamps



p 14, 1948- E. R. KULKA 2,449,394

HOLDER FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS Filed March 17, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

Eugene R. Kulka,

ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 14:, 1948 U NI T ED *5 TAT ES PATENT OF FI' C-E 2,449,394 notions. FoinFLUoRnsoENr LAMPS Eugene R. Kulka, MountVernon, N. Y. Applicatio-n March 17, 1945;jSerial '-No.'583 ,221

1 Claim. 1

My invention relatesrto -a new and improved holder for fluorescentlampsa-nd their starters.

I provide a holder unit which comprises a holder casing which has twolamp-sockets, 'anda starter-casing socket. Each lamp-socket canreceive apair of prongs of a lamp. The startercasing socket can receive the'twoprongs'of a starter-casing. The front and rear walls of saidholder-casing are perforated, so'that the two prongs f thestarter-casing can vbe inserted through said front wall or through saidrear wall.

Two'said holder-casings-can be fixed tothe wall or walls of a fixture,with the front walls of said holder-casings proximate to each other. Thefixture wall or walls are: perforated, sothat the starter-casings can beinsertedthrough the holes of said fixture walls, if the prongs of thestarter-casings are to be inserted through the rear walls of theholder-casing.

.I thus provide an improved holder-casingwhich requires a minimum numberof fastening devices and conducting parts. Two said holder-casings canhold two fluorescent lamps in absolute parallelism, and with theirprongs making good electrical contact with said conductingparts of theholder-casings.

Numerous additional objects and advantages of my invention are stated inthe annexed description and drawings, which illustrate an embodimentthereof.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, whichshows a single holder-casing orunit-casing of one unit, assembled at its front face with twofiuorescent'lamps, parts of which are illustrated. This figure alsoshows the wall of a fixture. The starter-casing is assembled with theholder-casing or unit-casing atthe rear wall of said holder-casing, inthe full line position of said starter-casing.

The broken-line position of the starter-casing shows itassembled withthe unit-casing, at the front wall of said unit-casing.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of a unit-casing, taken at its rear wall,with the insulating cover removed.

Fig. 3 is similar toFig. 2, on .a smaller scale than Fig. 2, showing theinsulating coveringstrip in position.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a unit.

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram.

Each unit comprises ailnit-casing i-which is made of insulatingmaterial. The general-construction of a holder for the prongs of afluorescentlamp, and also for the starter-casing of such lamp, is shown.in U. S. Patent No. 2,319,693, dated May 18, 1943,.and U. S. Patent No.2,363,734,

dated-November 28,1944. 'Hence well knoiw-nidetails are not. illustratedherein.

. .:Each unit-ca'sing-B'has end lamp-sockets 4 and 5, and anintermediate starter-casing-socket I4. These sockets 14,15 .an'ddd areoften :designated asholders, since their springs 'conductively abut and'releasably hold respective pair of prongs.

Each longitudinally-disposed fluorescent lamp land 2 has respectivemetal heads la and 2a, at each end of each said lamp. Each metalhead 2ahas a pair of'longitudinal prongs 2p, and eachmetal head lahas-a pair oflongitudinal prongs: lp. These prongs :are parallel to each other and tothe parallel longitudinal axesof the lamps l and 2.

Socket '4 has :blade cont-act springs 6 and-1. Socket 5 has bladecontactsprings H3 and I2.

1 Contact spring [2 has: an integral blade-spring leg or springextension !2a, which is one of the two 'contact springs of the.starter-casing socket l4. Saidso'cket M has a," companion blade-springl5.

Saidspringspincluding leg lZa,'are located between thezfront "andrear-walls orthe unit-casing 3.

These springs a're fixedto the walls of their respective sockets. Each"of the springs 6,1, I0 and :I2, is provided with a respective free endin its'respective socket.

Therear wallrof such unit-casing 3.1 ver I1, which is ::made ofinsulating material. Cover l1 isfixed 'to'unit-casing 3, at its rearwall, by rivets or "other fasteners 18, which are located in boresor'recesseszlfl .of unit-casing 3.

Each unit=casing 3'has apair of transverse through 'andthrough "holes H,through which fasteners can be ihserted, in order'to fiX aunitcasing'3rto1thewa'1l of air-respective fixture F. .At theistarter-socket .l4,the casing '3 has a pair of transverse through-and-through openm szmnd25;sothat these holes extend through the front-'andrearwalls of saidcasing 3. These holes 24 and25' register with corresponding holes in theinsulating cover [1.

Each unit-casing 3 is associated with four leadwires 8, 9, l5 and l I.Each said Wire has the usual insulating covering. The rear wall of eachunit-casing 3 has the usual recesses, through which the coveredportions. of said wires can be respectivelyinserted. The inner end ofeach said lead-wire'8, 9, l6 and H is bare. Said hare ends arerespectively conductively fixed to the springs 6, 1,15, and lil, atBa,"Tm/1 6a, and Illa. This tive unit-casing 3', at the rear wall of saidunit- U casing 3. The two prongs of the starter-casing C are theninserted through the two holes of the cover II, which register with therear ends of openings 24 and 25.

Said starter casing C can be assembled with the respective unit-casing3, at the front wall of said unit-casing 3, as shown in broken lines inFig. 1. In such position, the starter-casing C is located between thelamps I and 2. In such case, the two prongs of the starter-casing C areinserted into openings 24 and 25, through the front wall of the casing3.

The two prongs of each lamp are conductively assembled with a respectivepair of springs I5, I, or I0, I22, in the usual manner. For thispurpose, each unit-casing 3 is provided with the usual inlet-recessesand 2 I, through each of which two respective associated lamp-prongs'canbe passed. The front wall of each lamp-socket' l and 5 also has theusual openings 22 and 23, in which parts of the respective blade-springsare exposed.

When two unit-casings '3 are assembled in order to hold a pair of lamps,the lamp-socket 4 i of each unit-casing 3 is located diagonally relativeto the lamp socket 4 of the other unit-casing 3, as shown in Fig. 5.

Each lamp of the pair of lamps I and 2, has

its respective starter-casing C. For example, the r starter-casing Cwhich is assembled with the unit casing 3 which is shown in Fig. 1, iscombined with the lamp 2. The other starter-casing C which is assembledwith the other unit-casing 3, is combined with lamp I, because thesocket 4 of the unit-casing 3 which is shown in Fig. I, will belongitudinally alined with the socket 5 of the companion unit-casing 3.

As disclosed in said U. S. Patent No. 2,363,834, the starter-casing Chas a pair of prongs, which are inserted into openings 24 and 25, andthe starter-casing 3 is then turned, so that its prongs are heldreleasably by the respective resilient leg IZa and the respectivecompanion spring I5.'

Each opening 24 and 25 has a narrow portion and a wide portion. The twoprongs of each starter-casing C are originally longitudinally insertedinto said narrow portions. Thus, when the .prongs of a starter-casing Oare originally longitudinally inserted into the openings 24 and 25, inthe full-line position of said starter-casing C which is shown in Fig.2, said starter-casing C is then turned clockwise, so that its prongsare yieldingl held by 1eg I2a. and spring I5.

I thus provide a unit-casing 3', which requires only four lead-wires 8,9, I6, and 'I I, whereas if said three sockets 4, 5, and I4 were made asthree separate parts, according to current practice, such lead wireswould be required.

The improved unit-casing 3 requires only two attaching holes H, whereassix such holes would be necessary if said sockets 4, 5 and I 4 were madeas separate pieces.

Likewise, the lamps I and 2 are held in absolute parallelism, thusensuring good conductive contact between the four prongs of each lamp,and the respective springs 6, I and I0, I2.

In many cases, the fixture has a glass covering. According to currentpractice, it is necessary to locate the starter-casing inwardly of saidglass cover, so that the cover must be removed and replaced, in order toreplace a starter. This time and expense is eliminated, by locating thestartercasing C as shown in full lines in Fig. 1.

In many cases, the fluorescent lamps are mounted in industrial fixtures,which are located back-to-back. In such case, the starter-casings C canbe located as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1.

I thus greatly reduce the cost of making and using holders forfluorescent lamps and the like, which require starting switches.

Fig. 5 shows the circuit of the lamps I and 2.

In a lamp of this type, each end of the lamp is provided with a startingfilament, whose ends are connected to the respective pair of prongs.When the lamp is connected and while it is cold, its two end filamentsare temporarily connected by a starter switch to the respectiveterminals of the source of alternating current. The-starter switch isautomatic and it is operated by a thermostat, to open the connectionbetween the two resistances or coils, as soon as the lamp issufilciently heated for the ionization discharge through itsfilling. Thefilaments then act as electrodes for the ionization discharge.

Fig. 5 shows the springs I0, I2, I, and Bof the holder Which is shown inFig. 1, and the springs 5d, lcZ, IN, and 50d of the companion holder.Springs 6d and Id are identical with springs 6 and I, and springs I2dand Hid are identical with springs I2 and Ill. Spring I2d has anextension i219, which corresponds to extension I2a. Spring I503corresponds to spring I5. Fig. 5 shows that the leg IZa of spring I2forms one terminal of a starter switch 25, which is associated with therespective left lamp 2. The leg I2b forms one of the terminals ofstarter switch Is, which is associ ated with the right lamp I.

' Switch Is has a blade 53a, and switch 23 has a blade '53. Said bladesare biased to close the respective starter switches Is and 2s. a

The four left lamp prongs 2p of lamp 2, respectively contact with therespective four springs 6d, Id, IE! and I2.

The four lamp prongs Ip of the right lamp I, contact respectively withthe respective four springs IN, Hill, I, and 6.

The lamp 2 has the two filaments 2c, and the lamp I has the twofilaments Ic. Each said filament closes the circuit between therespective pair of prongs.

One lead 5| of the alternatin current power line is connected to theusual ballast resistance 54, which has two equal legs.

Wire ll connects spring II] to one leg of said ballast resistance 54.Wire 8 connects spring 6 to the other leg of ballast resistance 54.

The other lead 50 of said alternating current power line is connected bywire M to spring 6d, and'by wire II (1 to spring IOd. Wires II and (Zcorrespond to each other, and Wires 8 and 8d correspond to each other.

Wire 9, which is connected to spring I, is spliced at 52 to the wireIfid which is connected to spring I5d of starter switch Is. Wire I6,which is connected to the spring or blade I5, is spliced at 53 to wireM, which is connected to spring 1d] When lamp 2 is started, it is cold,and the starter blade 53 of its starter switch 2s, which is located inthe respective starter casing C, closes 5 the circuit between spring orblade I5 and spring or blade 12a. The current passes, for example, fromlead 50, through wire 811, spring 6d, the respective prong 2p, therespective filament 2c, the other respective prong 222, spring 1d, wires9d and it to spring I5, through starter blade 53 and leg 12a to springI2, through the respective prong 21 the respective filament 2c and theother respective prong 2p to sprin 10, wire ll, one leg of ballastresistance 54, and to the other lead When the lamp 2 is sufficientlyheated, a thermal device automatically moves blade 53 to open thecircuit between spring l5 and leg I212. The current is then conductedthrough lamp 2, by ionization through the gaseous and vapor fillingbetween the filaments 20, which then act as e1ectrodes.

The blade 53a of the starter switch is, similarly automatically breaksthe circuit between the filaments to of lamp I, when said lamp l issufficiently heated for the ionization discharge through its filling.

In practice, each starter switch and its thermostat is located in arespective casing C,

For convenience, each end 4 and 5 of the casing 3, in which a pair ofsprings 6, l, or l0, ii! are located, is designated as alamp-prong-socket. The intermediate part [4 of the casing 3 isdesignated as the starter-casing-prong-socket.

The lamp-prong-socket contact 1d of holder casing 3, which is connectedto a contact of the starter-casing-prong-socket of the other holdercasing 3, is unconnected to the contacts of thestarter-casing-prong-socket of the respective holder casing 3.

For convenience, the members [0, l2, 1 and 6 are designated as oneseries of terminal members, and the members 601, 1d, i2d and Hid aredesignated as another series of terminal members. Each said series hastwo outer terminal members, as the members It] and 6, and twointermediate inner terminal members, as the members l2 and I.

The outer terminal members I0 and 6 of one series are connected to arespective power-main 5|, and the outer terminal members 611 and 10d ofthe other series are connected to another respective power-main 50. Theinner terminal member [2 of one series is diagonally opposed to theinner terminal member [2d of the other series. These diagonally opposedinner terminal members 12 and 1242 have respective terminal extensions[2a and I212.

Each lamp has an associated thermal starter switch. One starter switch,which has the thermally controlled switch blade 53, has one end thereofcontacting the external starter-switch contact-member 2;!) of therespective lamp, and said switch-blade 53 normally contacts theassociated terminal extension lZa of the same lamp, when said lamp iscold. The other starter switch, which has the movable switch blade 53a,is similarly associated with the other lamp.

The outer contact members 2p are designated as power-maincontact-members.

I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is clearthat numerous changes and omissions and additions can be made withoutdeparting from its scope.

I claim:

In combination, a pair of parallel holder casings, each holder casinghaving a pair of lamp sockets and a starter-casing-socket which islocated between said lamp sockets, said holder casings being spacedlongitudinally from each other along a longitudinal axis which extendsthrough said starter-casing-sockets and being perpendicular to saidlongitudinal axis, each lamp socket of one holder casing beinglongitudinally alined with a lamp socket of the other holder casing toprovide a respective longitudinally alined pair of lamp sockets, eachlamp socket having an outer contact blade and an inner contact blade,only one inner contact blade of each lamp socket being an extended bladewhich is laterally extended towards the other inner contact blade of therespective holder casing into said starter-casing-socket to provide anadditional contact blade in said starter-.casin-g-socket, each saidstartercasing-socket having a supplemental contact blade, said laterallyextended inner blades being on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis,the two outer contact blades of one holder casing being connected to onepower main of a source of alternating current, the two outer contactblades of the other holder casing being connected to the other powermain of said source or alternating cur-rent, a starter-casing located ineach said starter-casing-socket and having respective contacts whichrespectively contact with the respective additional con-tact blade andthe respective supplemental contact blade, each said starter-casinghaving a movable and thermally controlled starter switch-blade which ispermanently connected to the respective supplemental contact blade andwhich is biased to normally contact with the respective additionalcontact blade, the other and non-extended inner blade of each saidholder casing being connected to the supplemental blade of thestarter-casing socket of the other holder casing, two longitudinal ionicdischarge lamps, each discharge lamp having a pair of external contactprongs at each end thereof and a filament connected between each saidpair of con-tact prongs, each said lamp having a pair of said contactprongs located and held in a respective pair of longitudinally alinedlamp sockets with each pair of external prongs contacting with arespective outer contact blade and an irmer contact blade, said switchblades being movable to break the circuit between said additionalcontact blades and said supplemental contact blades when said lamps aresufiiciently heated for dire-ct discharge between their respectivefilaments.

EUGENE R. KULKA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,241,261 Horn May 6, 19412,279,913 Cavanagh Apr. 14, 1942 2,288,939 Curtis July 7, 1942 2,288,940Curtis July 7, 1942 2,298,824 Darley Oct. 13, 1942 2,298,935 FreemanOct. 13, 1942 2,345,414 Mueller Mar. 28, 1944 2,403,130 Smith July 2,1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 550,640 France Mar, 14, 1923

